Desert, petrol rigs and women in disguise – often these are the things coming up first when you think of Saudi Arabia. However, this country, that covers the greatest part of the Arabian Peninsula, has a lot of historic and cultural treasures to offer. Saudi Arabia is home of the two most holy places of the Islam: Medina and Mecca, cities with outrageous buildings like the “Qubbat al Nabi” (mosque of the prophet) or Al-Masjid al-Haram. However, Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter these two cities, but there are other, fascinating places you can go during your trip to Saudi Arabia. Try a stay in Jeddah, a beautiful city at the Red Sea that offers not only wonderful architecture but also a wide range of leisure time activities such as diving or sailing.

Travelling to Saudi Arabia you will arrive at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which, by the way, is operated by the German airport operator Fraport. Direct flights from London to Riyadh take about five to six hours and are offered by different airlines. For example, you can find flights with Saudi Arabian Airlines on fly.co.uk. If you plan an extensive trip through the Arabian countries, there are flight connections from Saudi Arabia to Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and other destinations.

There are some points of interest you should not miss during your stay in Saudi Arabia. In Riyadh, you should visit the National Museum, take a walk through the beautiful Salam Park or make an extensive shopping trip on King Fahad Street. Interested in history? Then an excursion to Mada’in Saleh is recommended. At this archaeological site that belongs to UNESCO world heritage, you will find a row of monumental rock-cut tombs dated to the first century. But no matter where you go, remember that you are travelling a strict Islamic country. Therefore, in any case you should respect religious opinions and rules concerning dress codes or your behaviour in public. Then you can dive into the secrets of this mysterious country and will certainly enjoy your stay in Saudi Arabia.”

Festivals have always been an activity of great pleasure. As time goes on more and more interesting and exciting festivals have popped up around the world. From beer to wine, to medieval reenactments, to flowers, to music to food and much much more. April 2013 is no exception for hosting the most fun and interesting festivals of the year. Check out the list below and book your flight soon to get in on the memorable action!

Established in St Petersburg, Russia, White Night is an arts festival that, as the name suggests, runs continuously through the night. There are a number of cities across the world that host their own variation of the festival based on the original concept.

Places such as Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Leeds, Rome, Tel Aviv and Paris all play host to their own White Night events. Big news has emerged this year, as Melbourne has entered into the world of the White Night festival by hosting their very own version of the Russian arts extravaganza.

What Is The Purpose Of White Night?

Designed to encourage Melbourne residents and Australians across the country to get involved in the arts (either as spectators or actual artists), the white night festival included sculptures, dancing, art, design and live bands. In total there were over 100,000 people who made it to the city for the all night long festival.

One of the drawbacks to such a large number of people turning out in force for the event, meant that at times you might have had difficulty seeing what was happening. Not only did this hamper many people’s actual enjoyment of the event, but they may not have got to see an artist or a band they specifically turned up for. Many people made the wise decision and did not rush out to take part in the festivities until much earlier on in the morning, when a lot of the large crowds had disappeared.

No Longer Silent In The Library

One place that attracted a lot of attention was the state library that was playing host to very soft acoustic singing and harp playing. Many people remarked that it was beautiful and strange being in such a noisy library, contrary to the normal rules applied to sound within such an establishment. Other places dotted around the city had been turned into interactive, real life art pieces.

Some of these places had lights that danced against walls while performance artists acted out. Because Melbourne is already famous around the world for its street art, it felt as if the city had been elevated to a higher level than many of the other events, in terms of art appreciation at least. If your appetite has been whet by Australia and this once a year event, then one of the best ways to get to Melbourne is by booking online through cheapflights.co.uk. Not only do fly to all the best destinations down under, but they also offer the best prices too.

Vibrant Melbourne

Everywhere you looked, you saw art of some kind or another; whether it was a statue, a painting or acoustic bands playing their own melodies – it really made Melbourne feel like the most alive city in the world. Judging by the success of its debut foray into the world of white night, there is a strong sense that this won’t be the last time the city opens its doors for a long and extensive festival.